When Laurent and Catherine Degois went to the American Embassy in Paris for the final step in their application for the E-2 visa they needed to come to the United States and open a business, they prepared thoroughly. They had practiced answers and brought stacks of paper documenting their plans. But the official asked only one question: "Why Cincinnati?"

Good question. Why would this couple from the west coast of France give up a business and a home and move to a Midwestern city to open a French restaurant? Well, they say, they moved because they wanted a new challenge for themselves. And Catherine has a relative - her father's cousin - who lives in Cincinnati. They got a good impression of Cincinnati on a visit here. And so, in a few months, they'll be opening a restaurant on Main Street in Milford. It's named Chez Renee Bistrot, for the mother of Elizabeth's cousin.

"We looked at almost all the neighborhoods of Cincinnati," said Laurent, "and we liked this the best." Catherine thought it seems most French-like, with lots of small shops and people walking on the street.

The Degois are from the province of Loire-Atlantique, where Nantes is the capital. They've had a catering business in the town of Challans, working in many of the towns around the province. They are both good traditional French cooks. The specialty of their hometown is seafood from the coast, but their menu will represent French dishes in general, dishes that might be served in any bistro in the country.

"We call it a bistrot (the correct French spelling) because that means it's a casual place, where you could have a drink and bite, eat something quickly if you want," said Catherine. "This is an easy place to eat, where you come not once a year, but maybe several times in a week," said Laurent.

There will a plat du jour, meaning a changing special of the day, and they'll have a menu, too, with dishes such as coq au vin, pot au feu, and blanquette de veau (though Catherine thinks that light stew also works with turkey.) Plenty of desserts, too, such as lemon tart, mousse au chocolate and fraisier, a strawberry cake.

The space, at 235 Main Street, will probably seat about 60, and is painted in vivid turquoise with gold accents. Catherine and her mother, on a visit, made all the curtains and cushions for the banquette seats lining the walls. They haven't set an opening timetable yet, because they have work to do in installing a kitchen and bathrooms.